How to Light Up Wooden Beams and Barn-style Ceilings
Great lighting is one of the best ways to show off old beams. But it needs careful planning to get the right balance of style and function
Browsing Houzz, I’m struck by how many beautiful old barn conversions there are. These magical-looking spaces have scale and a wonderful sense of history, but they can also present some difficult lighting challenges, with very high ceilings in some areas, often large windows to contend with, and sometimes very small rooms with low ceilings tucked under the eaves.
And these challenges are not unique to barn conversions. Here are some clever ideas designers have used to light up beautiful old buildings with magnificent beams – as well as great solutions for lighting all manner of tricky spaces.
And these challenges are not unique to barn conversions. Here are some clever ideas designers have used to light up beautiful old buildings with magnificent beams – as well as great solutions for lighting all manner of tricky spaces.
Throw the light where you need it
Often the temptation is to put light fittings onto the beams but, if the heights are appropriate, a suspended track like this one is a very good solution, keeping the timber clear and uncluttered.
A track can be a one-circuit track (meaning all the lights go on and off together), but in a large room like this, where you might want different lights for different tasks or moods, it would be appropriate to use a three-circuit track. This gives you the ability to divide the spots out into three separate zones – for example, to have one spot to light the dining table, one to light the island and one to provide wider ambient lighting, even though they are physically fixed to the same track.
Often the temptation is to put light fittings onto the beams but, if the heights are appropriate, a suspended track like this one is a very good solution, keeping the timber clear and uncluttered.
A track can be a one-circuit track (meaning all the lights go on and off together), but in a large room like this, where you might want different lights for different tasks or moods, it would be appropriate to use a three-circuit track. This gives you the ability to divide the spots out into three separate zones – for example, to have one spot to light the dining table, one to light the island and one to provide wider ambient lighting, even though they are physically fixed to the same track.
Minimise glare
A real challenge with low ceilings is dealing with glare, as the lights are low down and close to your face.
The simple solution used here – of adding linear lighting on a small dropped ceiling section – avoids having spotlights close to eye level. It’s glare-free and the linear shape emphasises the parallel lines of the beams. With this kind of arrangement, you could use fluorescent or cold cathode lighting, but LED linear would be the most common choice.
Find inspiration for decorating awkward nooks and sloping ceilings
A real challenge with low ceilings is dealing with glare, as the lights are low down and close to your face.
The simple solution used here – of adding linear lighting on a small dropped ceiling section – avoids having spotlights close to eye level. It’s glare-free and the linear shape emphasises the parallel lines of the beams. With this kind of arrangement, you could use fluorescent or cold cathode lighting, but LED linear would be the most common choice.
Find inspiration for decorating awkward nooks and sloping ceilings
Don’t overdo the lighting in small spaces
This bathroom is squeezed into the eaves and illustrates how less can be more when lighting small spaces.
Downlighters positioned in the back of the shower enhances the tiles and makes the space feel larger. The uplighting in the corner provides interest and ‘lifts’ the ceiling.
Get more bathroom lighting ideas
This bathroom is squeezed into the eaves and illustrates how less can be more when lighting small spaces.
Downlighters positioned in the back of the shower enhances the tiles and makes the space feel larger. The uplighting in the corner provides interest and ‘lifts’ the ceiling.
Get more bathroom lighting ideas
Light at a human level
Although very high ceilings command attention and can look beautifully dramatic, it’s important also to offer a sense of intimacy in large spaces. In this project, the designers have actively tried to bring the light down to a more ‘human’ height.
Yes, there is ceiling uplighting but the lighting to which your eyes are drawn is the linear fittings a metre or so off the ground. This provides some practical lighting at lower level (although it would probably need to be supplemented) and makes the large space feel more cosy.
Although very high ceilings command attention and can look beautifully dramatic, it’s important also to offer a sense of intimacy in large spaces. In this project, the designers have actively tried to bring the light down to a more ‘human’ height.
Yes, there is ceiling uplighting but the lighting to which your eyes are drawn is the linear fittings a metre or so off the ground. This provides some practical lighting at lower level (although it would probably need to be supplemented) and makes the large space feel more cosy.
Make the most of daylight
Daylight is our most valuable light source. Nothing offers the same quality of light, and the large windows in this property would let plenty of it flood in. Managing the light from such large windows can be a real challenge though.
The answer is electric curtains and blinds. The very best are almost silent, can be used via the same lighting control system that controls the artificial lighting inside, and can be linked to sensors to close and provide shade or open and let in more light as required.
Daylight is our most valuable light source. Nothing offers the same quality of light, and the large windows in this property would let plenty of it flood in. Managing the light from such large windows can be a real challenge though.
The answer is electric curtains and blinds. The very best are almost silent, can be used via the same lighting control system that controls the artificial lighting inside, and can be linked to sensors to close and provide shade or open and let in more light as required.
Zone with lights
This is a huge medieval barn, which needed to operate both as one overall space and as more intimate separate zones.
The space is lit predominantly by fabulous ground-recessed uplights and post-mounted spots. It’s these that create the glow on the ceiling and the bulk of the light at ground level.
The sail creates intimacy over the dining table, and the lighting coming through it gives a wonderful glow. It absorbs a huge amount of the light though, so the quantity of fittings was carefully worked through to compensate for this. Some of the light bounces back onto the ceiling, enhancing the overall space.
More localised lighting enables the different areas to function and to feel cosy – for example, the light washing down the bookshelves in the library area at the far end.
This is a huge medieval barn, which needed to operate both as one overall space and as more intimate separate zones.
The space is lit predominantly by fabulous ground-recessed uplights and post-mounted spots. It’s these that create the glow on the ceiling and the bulk of the light at ground level.
The sail creates intimacy over the dining table, and the lighting coming through it gives a wonderful glow. It absorbs a huge amount of the light though, so the quantity of fittings was carefully worked through to compensate for this. Some of the light bounces back onto the ceiling, enhancing the overall space.
More localised lighting enables the different areas to function and to feel cosy – for example, the light washing down the bookshelves in the library area at the far end.
Use light fittings like architecture
While some rooms call for the light fittings to be discreetly hidden, in this modern kitchen there’s no attempt to conceal the lights or their fixing mechanism.
In fact, the angled steel supports cleverly echo the beam structure, and are a striking statement in their own right.
While some rooms call for the light fittings to be discreetly hidden, in this modern kitchen there’s no attempt to conceal the lights or their fixing mechanism.
In fact, the angled steel supports cleverly echo the beam structure, and are a striking statement in their own right.
Accentuate don’t dominate
In this cathedral-like pool room, the ground-recessed and beam-mounted uplights combine to draw your eyes upward.
The lighting in the central space would come from the pool lights when they’re switched on.
For pools, we would typically use fittings with an IP rating of X7 (the measure of water resistance) and fittings with a chlorine-proof finish.
In this cathedral-like pool room, the ground-recessed and beam-mounted uplights combine to draw your eyes upward.
The lighting in the central space would come from the pool lights when they’re switched on.
For pools, we would typically use fittings with an IP rating of X7 (the measure of water resistance) and fittings with a chlorine-proof finish.
Create fixing points to work with heritage beams
Functional but minimal tensioned track lighting gives good working light in this kitchen. The barn is listed, so we designed custom brackets to go around the pillars to get a secure fixing point without the need to drill into the ancient posts.
As well practical lighting provided by the track and the occasional downlight where possible, we also designed accent lighting to make the most of the old timber. For example, the light washing down the beam in the cupboard at the back provides a beautiful focal point to the space.
Functional but minimal tensioned track lighting gives good working light in this kitchen. The barn is listed, so we designed custom brackets to go around the pillars to get a secure fixing point without the need to drill into the ancient posts.
As well practical lighting provided by the track and the occasional downlight where possible, we also designed accent lighting to make the most of the old timber. For example, the light washing down the beam in the cupboard at the back provides a beautiful focal point to the space.
Balance decorative and functional lighting
This is a very delicate treatment of a double-height space: the low-level lights lead your eye up the stairs, but the showstopper is the ‘rain’ of pendants coming down from the ceiling. This is a beautiful solution and quite a serious investment.
The rain effect provides little practical light so is backed up by beam-mounted spots and the pendant over the table.
TELL US…
How have you lit a tricky space in your home? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
This is a very delicate treatment of a double-height space: the low-level lights lead your eye up the stairs, but the showstopper is the ‘rain’ of pendants coming down from the ceiling. This is a beautiful solution and quite a serious investment.
The rain effect provides little practical light so is backed up by beam-mounted spots and the pendant over the table.
TELL US…
How have you lit a tricky space in your home? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
A profile is a machine-made structure that contains one or more light fittings, and can have more than one circuit for maximum flexibility. Here, a sleek profile is suspended from the ceiling to give a sympathetic fixing point. Although quite chunky, the profile is mirrored, which makes it minimal and unobtrusive.
The discreet keypad by the door is for a lighting control system, which means that the various lights across the large, open space can be controlled individually with a single button press.